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If you’ve been a job seeker for quite some time now and you religiously read job hunt tips, you should know which way “over-pricing but under-delivering” leads to. It’s for certain that today’s job market is employee-driven, but the recruiting experts at Hays Singapore warn job seekers to keep their salary expectations realistic, we’ve read at todayonline.com. Regardless of how honed a job seeker’s employee skills are, he/she should take note of the fact that the last recession has taught Singapore employers to be cautious. Yes, there have been news reports about top companies in Singapore having expansion pursuits and looking for suitable candidates to fill in the new posts. However, they know which candidates have a salary agenda and which have clear intentions.
So, review your asking price. While self confidence is good in career building, is this price too much? We invite you to browse Find Jobs to review the latest rates in your field. And then, there’s also News Watch where our editors post press releases from partner organizations that can help you quantify things.
Perhaps, our Industry News section can also help. This section contains our editors’ interviews with career professionals from different fields, from aviation to social services. Not only will get proper ideas, but also learn the crisscrosses of your chosen field. Tips to impress future job interviewers, anyone?
Exceptions to this case are job seekers in skills-short industries like accountancy and finance. Accounting Jobs, Bank Jobs, and Finance Jobs are very much in demand right now. If you visited this blog yesterday, you should know.
Oh, don’t leave the site yet. Because this is our blog, we want to refocus your attention to the re-branded LearningDB at www.jobsdblearning.com.sg. Take a look at the latest offerings at learning.sg.jobsdb.com/sg/course_by_month?month=7&year=2011 again and see if anything else scheduled for the month of July catches your interest. Hey, attending career seminars will help you to increase credentials.
Do you have a job interview coming up but don’t know how to prepare for it? Fret not. Although we haven’t written about interview techniques in a long while, Career Advice has kept our knowledge on this topic pretty sharp.
It starts with knowing that there are two types of interview questions. Afterwards, things will become easier to deal with. Knowing the difference between traditional questions and behavioural questions will help you to overcome the fear of sounding uninteresting during the interview. Making an impression is “the goal”, right?
Your guess as to what traditional questions are may be correct. These are basic questions and can only only divulge your opinion on certain topics to the interviewer. They are also used to go about most other kinds of interviews, one common example being “how would others describe you?”
Behavioural interviewing questions are the exact opposite, what with the fact that they will give the interviewer an idea as to how you will react to stressful situations and other similar occasions. In other words, your answers to such questions can reveal deeper aspects of your personality if interpreted properly. In case you’re wondering, one common example is “how would you if an office ruling that you don’t exactly agree to gets enacted?” The interviewer may also ask you to recall a past event and will make follow ups to each of your answers in an effort to probe deeper.
The thing is, the behavioural interview method is gaining popularity because it suits today’s job market. How should you prepare for the highly probable throwing of such questions in your next interview?
This article at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Questions-in-an-Interview?ID=458 will give you hints. Related resources for you to check:
Good luck with your interview!
Many are confused about the real definition of office etiquette. What is it about, anyway? And if it doesn’t concern pay increase, why is it a hot topic on social networking sites?
Simple answer: Office etiquette has something to do with corporate culture. Remember what we said about it yesterday? That corporate culture affects the overall quality of one’s work life or how one does his/her job? That’s the point.
We ask you this: Will sitting beside a slacker help to make you more productive or just turn you into another corporate bum? If your seatmate listens to very loud metal music all the time, can this improve your general perceptions on things in relation to your pursuit for career advancement like perhaps, incline you to attend more training seminars?
The answers to those questions are glaringly obvious. That’s why consideration must be exercised all the time in offices. Because the office is a social space, while inside its confines, everyone is expected to act appropriately in order to harness productivity.
Not sure how to act? Career Advice happens to keep a good number of articles about office etiquette; you might want to check each of them out. We strongly recommend the following:
Top 10 Ways to Become Someone You Would Respect and Admire at Work at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Respect%20&%20Admire%20at%20Work?ID=651
Author: Gary Alger, Solutions EAP
Article Highlight:
Accept responsibility for your words and actions, especially your mistakes. (“Personal power means never fearing to say you’re sorry.”)
5 Golden Rules of Good Office Etiquette at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Career%20Guide?ID=278
Author: Agnes Koh, Director of Etiquette & Image International
Article Highlight:
We need to conduct ourselves in a professional and genuine manner in the workplace so that our managers, colleagues and clients will respect us. Although working life can be very stressful at times, it’s important that we do our best to be in control of our emotions and not get too worked up. This is because showing our anger and venting out our frustration inappropriately in the office leaves a very bad impression and makes everyone feel uncomfortable too.
15 Tips for Thriving in a Cubicle Environment at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Thriving-Cubicle-Environm?ID=498
Author: Excerpt from What to Do About Personnel Problems and HRnext
Article Highlight:
Recognise that the cube is a public space - don’t say anything you don’t want everyone to know.
It has been forecasted many times: Mergers and acquisitions will increase over the coming years. More and more Singapore employers are starting to believe in the potential of such corporate moves, but do you know what to do with your career development if ever your company decides to undergo either of the two?
It’s common knowledge that corporate culture affects the overall quality of your work life or how you do your job. Since a merger will result to an entirely new corporate environment, it’s important that you design coping plans.
The question now is HOW? Don’t worry because Career Advice has articles from experts about adjusting to a new corporate culture after a merger. It’s a shame that we haven’t featured these articles over here ever before, proving just how problematic our prioritizing skills really are. But yes, here’s their long-overdue debut at http://jobsdbsingapore.blogspot.com:
How to adjust to a new corporate culture after a merger? at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Work%20Tips?ID=672
Author: Ruby Chen
Article Highlight:
Learn how information is exchanged and adopt the same methods in your own approach. Each company communicates in different ways. For example, one company may have a stronger emphasis on face-to-face or are heavy e-mailers. If you are unsure, schedule meetings with key stakeholders to get an understanding of each other’s working habits and preferences.
Keep Your Career On Track Following A Merger at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/merger-career-advice.htm?ID=181
Author: Hays Singapore
Article Highlight:
Your workplace is not the same. Accept this fact and use every opportunity to get to know the new company and the way they want things done. Act as you would when you first start a new job - dress professionally, act professionally and communicate professionally. Aim to impress.
Blank. Our mind’s blank, for some reason. It’s frustrating; we don’t know why our brain’s refusing to cooperate with us at all.
Needless to say, this is a problem. Our words haven’t been this robotic since we last forced ourselves to write while with fever. We wanted our post to be intelligent for once (uhm, like most career blogs?), but we couldn’t pull out the right words.
Actually, we’re supposed to talk about scheduling as a stress management tool for today and we feel bad that we couldn’t even make a proper introduction. But don’t worry, we’re not going to force out words just so we can make this longer. Anyway, if you’ve been following our blog since the very start, you probably already know what inspired today’s discussion topic. At least, we have the assurance that the message will be shared properly.
In particular, our favorite article whose title is “15 Ways to Beat Stress at Work” and can be read at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Beat%20Stress%20at%20Work?ID=649 is what inspired this post. Every item in the list is worth the try, but we’d like to stress out point 14.
Pace yourself. Schedule the most taxing jobs for the times when your energy is naturally high. Likewise, if you are prone to low energy late in the day, for example, use that time to read industry journals or opening mails.
Like most career experts, we believe that productivity is a “Relative” measure. What boosts your mood for work, may not work for another. Major project? It is suggested that you do it during the part of the day when you are most active.
Related articles:
Job dissatisfaction and prolonged unemployment are arguably, two of the most discussed career topics on the web. Proof is this blog: publishing something about either of the two over here will automatically result to getting feedback. You know us, right? Given our uncanny addiction to receiving reactions from our readers (due to our insecurity, perhaps), this is something that we’ve long taken note of (and practice as much as we can).
These two career problems could have developed popularity online because they seem difficult to get out of. But truth be told, though different in context, there’s actually only one way to get out of their brand of rut: persistent action. Popular e-book writer, Athul Mattur shared it best with our editors for Career Advice once: “The key to solving sticky problems is not to succumb to negative, depressing thoughts but to stay motivated.”
You know our favorite lines, right? To confused job seekers, we always argue that competition in the Singapore job market is tight, so it is important that one recognizes the power of patience. For career professionals, things are a little bit different, but it all boils down to confidence in one’s abilities and skills — in other words, one should know how to present these properly to the top executives.
“Getting motivated is another issue entirely!”, you may be complaining. Here’s the thing: thinking that lack of motivation is the reason why you’ve remained down in terms of career to this date is surely lighter in the heart than any other. Are you facing one of these career problems? Well, do you lack motivation? Athul’s tips are simple:
His full article can be read at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Stay%20Motivated?ID=666. Believe us, trying his suggestions is going to improve how you perceive the task of career development.
In the Singapore job market (and most, if not all, other employment planes), three issues concerning job seekers can be identified: age, gender and race. Making up controversies aside, this is something we’ve observed throughout the months that we’ve moderated this blog and http://www.facebook.com/jobsdb.com.sg. Common reactions from expats: it’s hard to look for job ads that are open to non-PR/Singaporean. On the other hand, mature workers are concerned if there is still room for them to advance their careers.
The Singapore job market has always been tough; it all boils down to this simple advice: “Face up the competition.”
Ruby Chen, now Executive Director of DBM Singapore, has shared to our editors the same piece of advice once. Her article at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Face%20up%20Competition?ID=661 is addressed to over-50 career professionals, but some of her career tips are applicable to younger workers as well, particularly these bits here:
External networks can also enable you to tap into opportunities if the need or desire to change employment or direction arises.
Career management means making people aware of your achievements while recognising the contribution others may have made to this and the value those achievements have to an organisation.
Be receptive to new ideas; learn from those around you. The moment you feel you have nothing to learn, it is time to get out.
Continue learning about your industry and profession. Consider joining industry peak bodies or associations.
Be candid — with your direct manager or human resources manager — about your goals and aspirations for the third phase (pre-retirement) of your career.
The keywords are “networking”, “career management”, “staying updated”, learning opportunities, and “building relationships”. And where else can you find good articles about these career pursuits but at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerIndex?
Okay…questions. What do they have to do with advancing a professional career? Questions are often associated with a curious mind; isn’t curiosity a danger in the realm of career building, what with the fact that this endeavor is all about relationships — the sensitive, professional kinds? And we all know that too much of probing (to higher ups) can be labeled (both by coworkers and the higher ups in question) as an act of assertion.
This career discussion is two-fold, involving both career professionals and job seekers. Here’s the basic idea: come up with questions to ask your boss or job interviewer and strengthen your chances of hitting the goal. Sounds like a relevant assumption on our part, but do we have references to support it?
Of course. We made this clear yesterday, while admitting to our rather deep insecurities in relation to getting feedback from our readers: with a writing job, comes the need to be careful. In fact, we’ve featured these references here many times; if you’ve been following us since the earliest stages of our being moderators to this blog, you should be able to pinpoint these articles from our editors’ rosters at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerIndex.
For job hunters:
How to Ask Good Questions? It’s Not About You, It’s About Them at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Ask%20An%20Expert?ID=402
Author: Jonathan Kwan, Principal at Kwantum Leap
Highlight:
Asking the right type of questions can definitely leave the interviewer with a great impression about you. But what are good questions to ask? Here are 3 rules to keep in mind:
1. Only ask questions you genuinely want to know the answer to.
2. Don’t ask open-ended questions; try to be as specific as possible.
3. Always start your question with a bit of a preamble.
Challenges and obstacles are a normal part of the human experience. We can use insightful self-questioning to help move us out of times of despair toward more clarity, and a recovery of our purpose and joy.~
Here are some questions I find particularly powerful whenever I am confronted by a challenge:
* What is the greatest obstacle in my way that I truly want an answer to?
* If I’m not happy with the results I’m getting, what do I need to change?
* What is the pay-off for staying where I am in life?
* What is the pay-off for moving toward a more optimistic outlook?
* What limitations do I believe about myself that I am now willing to discard?
Do we like being controversial? We seek for attention (what blogger doesn’t?), but not “THAT” much, if you know what we mean. Okay, we’re desperate…desperate for conversation, but given that it comes with keeping a writing job, there’s nothing wrong with us, right? We mean, we’re not crazy?
Anyway, although we’re careful, we DO cause stirs once in a while. Granted, we haven’t caused trouble for quite some time now, but the fact that we’ve been labeled as misunderstanding stirrers on a Linkedin group once remains. Now you remember. This was the culprit:
Boy, those days we’re tough, answering inquiries from career professionals (angry ones) and all. It’s been almost a year and we feel bad for not having made up for the trouble yet. Guess we have to do it now (or else you’d get mad more)? Heh. We’re just kidding.
It’s just that we’re scheduled to talk about temp jobs and contract jobs today. Who wouldn’t remember the history behind that post? If it’s still fresh in your memory banks, then how do you think it goes for us?
Anyway, in case you haven’t realized still, sg.jobsdb.com keeps a couple of career articles about contract and temp positions under Career Advice at sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerIndex. Such jobs are often mislabeled as “unstable”, but the truth is, they’re great career boosters.
Currently job hunting? You might want to look into the option of temping for a change. Some reasons why you should, as suggested by expert authors:
Benefit of Temping at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/benefitof-temping.htm?ID=312
Author: Jays Nithiyanandan, Director Business Trends of Personnel Consulting Group
Highlight:
Temping is an invaluable training opportunity. It enables you to grow and develop. You may be able to pick up on the latest software or computer skills. You may gain valuable work experience that would add value to your career. Different companies and industries have different things to teach you however you need to have a keen interest in your duties before you’ll learn anything.
About Temp Staff in Singapore at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/about-temp-staff.htm?ID=315
Author: Sam Haggag, General Manager of Manpower Staffing Services (S) Pte Ltd
Highlight:
Absolutely, employees can improve their skill and vary their experience by taking on temporary assignments which will broaden their sphere of experience making their skills more marketable.
Not “Just a Temp” at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Career%20Guide?ID=414
Author: Vicki S. Steere, President and founder of CareersColorado.com
Highlight:
Today’s competitive environment encourages companies to utilize a more flexible workforce, and temporary employment is a part of that. For the employee, working temporary assignments can be intimidating. While it can be like having the first day on the job jitters day in and day out, the experience will also add to an employee’s marketability in the workplace.
Say Yes to Contracting at http://sg.jobsdb.com/SG/EN/Resources/JobSeekerArticle/Career%20Guide?ID=414
Highlight:
Here are more reasons why the job seeker should say “yes” to contracting:
* It opens the door to a new industry or a new profile.
* It is a stopgap arrangement for those in-between jobs.
* It helps to increase your cash-in-hand by clubbing in the bonus as a guaranteed income.
* It gives you the opportunity to try out a role before deciding to move long-term into a similar position, without having to commit to your employer.
* You gain exposure to new technologies and projects across the industry in a much shorter time span.
* You are provided with the opportunity to list additional knowledge and value to your CV with every new project undertaken.
* You are provided with the opportunity to prove yourself in a large MNC environment and get recognised for better roles.
* There is a lower risk of losing your job since the cost of hiring a contractor is relatively lower in comparison with a permanent headcount and organisations are thus less likely to hire and fire.
* You have the opportunity to experience salary increments from one contract to another instead of having to wait for annual increments.
* From a lifestyle perspective, it provides you with more freedom to plan longer holidays in-between contracts or to invest your time in trainings and courses to upgrade yourself and gain more skills.
In short, contracting definitely provides you with a more flexible lifestyle whilst broadening the limits and horizons for a professional, well-rounded and exponential career path.
